Use a layer as a basemap in ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS Pro

Summary

After authoring a basemap, it can be used in both ArcGIS Pro and ArcGIS Online. It can simply be added as a layer in the Contents pane, but this can also be done more formally by the following steps.

Note: 
ArcMap cannot be used because tile and vector tile formats are not compatible.

Procedure

ArcGIS Pro

1. From the Catalog pane, right-click the Maps folder and select New Basemap, as shown in the next image.
   • This can also be done from the Insert tab > New Map drop-down menu.

 

2. Add the layers to use for the basemap. In this example, the next image shows that a custom basemap style and a hillshade were used:

3. Save all the changes.
   • Alternatively, if there are existing standard maps with the layers required, they can be converted to avoid re-creating them: Right-click the map from the Catalog pane > Maps, point to Convert and select Basemap.

4. From the Map tab > Layers group > Basemap drop-down menu, the one just created is listed, as shown in the next image.

ArcGIS Online: Map Viewer

1. From the Contents toolbar, click Basemap > Current Basemap.
2. Click the Add button.

3. Search for the layer to use. In this example, a custom basemap style was used. These are compatible formats:
   • Tile layer
   • Tile imagery layer
   • ArcGIS Server Web Server
   • OGC Web Map Service (WMS)
   • OGC Web Map Tile Service (WMTS)
4. Click the back arrow and the layers are now listed as the basemap.
   • The name can also be changed.

ArcGIS Online: Map Viewer Classic

1. Click the Add tab and insert the layer to use.

2. Once added, click Options and select Move to Basemap.
   • Note that it is included in the Topographic group layer.